Top Speakers to Present at 5th Annual TOM Conference

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Nov. 1, 2017) — Top experts and consultants both inside and outside of the tennis industry are signing up to share their expertise and knowledge at the fifth annual TOM Conference, which will be April 8-11 at Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, S.C. Presented by the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), the TOM Conference targets tennis owners, managers and industry decision-makers with a focus on innovation, growth and business leadership.

In addition to educational sessions and specialty courses (CEU credits are available from PTR and USPTA), the TOM Conference will also include a Resource Center, “best practices” roundtable discussions, leadership and facility management sessions, presentations on equipment and technology, networking sessions, future of tennis and technology applications, digital and social media discussions, and more.

“We’re excited that top speakers and presenters in tennis, sports, and the club and facility industry are interested in speaking to our TOM Conference audience,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “The TOM Conference continues to grow each year, with more and different programming and interactive presentations.”

Among the presenters at this year’s conference will be Stephen Tharrett, the co-founder of ClubIntel and owner/president of Club Industry Consulting, who will speak on leadership lessons and the importance of incorporating fitness into programming. Also on the agenda is Tim Bainton, founder of Blue Chip Sports Management, discussing “Tracking Trends and Increasing Profits.” Exercise Physiologist Dan Zeman, with 35 years of experience in the health, fitness and sports medicine areas, and who has worked with the Minnesota Vikings and other pro sports teams, will talk about increasing your business by marketing to baby-boomers.

Other speakers confirmed to date will include USTA General Manager of Community & Youth Tennis Craig Morris on the Net Generation initiative; Midtown Athletic Club Vice President & General Manager Michael Mahoney; labor and employment lawyer Jordan Schwartz; and USTA University Managing Director Scott Schultz.

Kirk Anderson, the general manager of USTA products and services for the USTA Pacific Northwest Section, will discuss creating a club culture based on exceptional and innovative leadership. John Borden, the general manager of the College Park (Md.) Tennis Club, will talk about “Growing the Sport Through Adult Tennis: The Millennial Experience.”

Industry veterans Doug Cash and Greg Lappin will again moderate sessions, and will also present a specialty course on “Advancing Your Career Path.” Other specialty courses will be presented by sports club marketing expert Casey Conrad, Sports Club Advisors co-founder Jim Bates, and Charlie Ruddy, founder & CEO of TCPS Services.

The conference will also include on-court demos and/or discussions for short-court forms of tennis such as POP Tennis (with former pro tour player Murphy Jensen and POP Tennis pro Austin Doerner), paddle, pickleball and padel. In addition, winners of Tennis Industry magazine’s Champions of Tennis Awards will be recognized at the TOM.

Also at the TOM Conference, the TIA will sponsor the third edition of its increasingly popular Innovation Challenge, which spotlights some of the most brilliant new and innovative sports products and services in a unique competition format. (To enter the Innovation Challenge, visit TheTOMConference.com to fill out the free online application; deadline January 1.)

“The TOM Conference program is designed to help position industry businesses for future growth,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “We’ve been thrilled to see the TOM continue to grow each year, both in terms of tennis facility decision-makers and the industry experts who attend, along with the actionable content, tools and take-aways delivered.”

The first day of the TOM Conference also will be the finals at the nearby Volvo Car Open women’s tournament on Daniel Island, S.C. Visit TheTOMConference.com.

Register before Nov. 20 for the early-bird discount at TheTOMConference.com. Contact the TIA for more information at 843-686-3036 or email info@tennisindustry.org.